Aviation conference set for Colombia

Routes Americas, now in its sixth year, is an event designed to facilitate meetings between senior airport executives and airline route decision makers, as well as tourism authorities from the Americas and the Caribbean.

The event is expected to attract more than 60 airlines from across the region and beyond with more than 45 carriers already registered to attend, plus key decision makers from a wide variety of airlines and airports. All four United States network carriers; US Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and the world’s largest airline, United Airlines (who attended the event for the first time last year) have already confirmed that they will be in Colombia for the event, along with the top low-cost carriers in the US, including JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit.

From elsewhere in the region registrations have so far included Gol, Volaris, COPA Airlines, Aeromexico, Colombia’s home carrier, Avianca-TACA and most recently Vivaaerobus. Moreover, a strong presence from Canada looks likely with registrations confirmed from Air Canada, who will return to the event for the first time since 2009, and leading low cost carrier WestJet, which boasts an extensive network into the Caribbean.

Out of region carriers who have confirmed they will attend the event include Condor, Norwegian and Turkish Airlines and registered attendees also include senior representatives such as John Kirby, senior director international for Southwest Airlines; Enrique Beltranena, chief executive officer of Volaris; Nicolas Rhoads, senior vice president, commercial planning of Aeromexico; and Mauricio Emboaba Moreira, senior strategic adviser for Gol. Also taking place is the Routes Americas Strategy Summit, which is held in association with the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association.

Promised are the latest insights from high-profile aviation leaders and CEOs. Confirmed speakers include Sergio Diaz Granados, minister of industry, commerce and tourism for Colombia; Ricky Skerritt, minister of tourism and international transport for St. Kitts and Nevis; Beverly Nicholson-Doty, chairwoman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation; Brian Hedberg, senior air services negotiator at US Department of Transportation; and Alex de Gunten, executive director of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association.

The conference takes place at The Hilton Cartagena from 10 to 12 February.